Health

Cardiac risk classification based on lipid screening

Article Abstract:

Total cholesterol levels of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of less than 130 mg/dL are considered desirable, whereas levels of 240 mg/dL and 160 mg/dL respectively, are high and associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, or disease of the major blood vessels supplying the heart. Chemistry analyzers are used in public screening programs for measuring cholesterol levels to identify persons at increased risk for coronary artery disease; the inexperience of persons operating these machines may contribute to the inaccuracy of cholesterol determinations. The variability in cholesterol measurements may result from biological, collection and handling, and clinical sources. Analytic variability is also very common in clinical laboratories. Because of this variability, it may be more useful to know the range of cholesterol values rather than the actual cholesterol number. This would give information about the variability of each individual's cholesterol levels, and provide a basis for defining the risk for coronary artery disease. A range of values makes it easier to follow-up the blood cholesterol trends that occur after treatment, and allows patients to better determine their cardiac risk. However, a more accurate and reliable cholesterol testing method would reduce the number of samples required to determine the effectiveness of treatment. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Author: Belsey, Richard, Baer, Daniel M.

Publisher:American Medical AssociationPublication Name:JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationSubject:HealthISSN:0098-7484Year:1990

Blood chemical analysis, editorial, blood

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Cardiac deaths after a mass smallpox vaccination campaign -- New York City, 1947

Article Abstract:

The smallpox vaccine probably does not increase a person's risk of developing coronary heart disease, according to an analysis of 81,529 death certificates between 1946-1948. In 1947, six million New York City residents received the same type of smallpox vaccine that was used in 2003. The number of deaths from coronary heart disease was no higher in 1948 than it was in 1946.

Publisher:American Medical AssociationPublication Name:JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationSubject:HealthISSN:0098-7484Year:2003

Complications and side effects, Smallpox vaccine, Smallpox vaccines

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Expanding newborn screening: how good is the evidence?

Article Abstract:

Doctors now have a chance to determine whether mass screening of newborn babies for specific diseases is cost-effective. Twenty-four US states now specify that all newborn babies must be screened using tandem mass spectrometry to test blood samples. The other states can be used as comparison states to see if mass screening improves outcomes.

Author: Holtzman, Neil A.

Publisher:American Medical AssociationPublication Name:JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationSubject:HealthISSN:0098-7484Year:2003